Rapid chemical testing assembly and methods thereof

A testing assembly for the detection of cyanide in a sample, the testing assembly comprising:

• a sample collection device capable of collecting a sample volume between about 5 microliters and about 300 microliters;
• a chemical capture cartridge comprising:
• a chamber plate having a sample chamber for receiving the sample and a capture chamber;
• a reagent bubble plate having a plurality of reagent bubbles, each reagent bubble containing between about 5 microliters and about 5 milliliters of a separate reagent including at least one acid reagent, at least one base reagent, at least one napththalene-2-3-dialdeyde (NDA) reagent, and at least one taurine reagent;
• at least one reagent channel plate located between the chamber plate and the reagent plate, wherein the at least one reagent channel plate comprises at least one reagent channel configured to provide fluid communication between the sample chamber of the chamber plate and the at least one acid reagent bubble, and wherein the at least one reagent channel plate comprises at least one reagent channel configured to provide fluid communication between the capture chamber of the chamber plate and each of the at least one base, NDA and taurine reagent bubbles;
• and
• at least one air channel plate located between the at least one reagent channel plate and the chamber plate, wherein the at least one air channel plate comprises an external gas flow channel configured to provide a fluid connection between an external gas source and the sample chamber, and wherein the at least one air channel plate comprises a headspace gas channel configured to provide a fluid connection between the headspace of the sample chamber and the capture chamber;
• and
• a sensing device;
• wherein the sample collection device is configured provide a cap for at least the sample chamber of the chemical capture cartridge and discharge the sample into the sample chamber;
• wherein the sample chamber of the chemical capture cartridge is configured to react the sample with at least the acid reagent to provide a headspace gas comprising hydrogen cyanide, a volume of the external gas source is configured to transfer the headspace gas from the sample chamber to a mixture of the base, NDA and taurine reagents in the capture chamber to form a detectible cyanide complex with NDA and taurine;
• wherein the sensing device comprises an excitation source and a detector for indicating the presence or absence of cyanide;
• and
• wherein the testing assembly is capable of providing an analysis in less than about 60 seconds with a detection limit of about 2 μM.

A device for the detection of cyanide in a sample, the device comprising:

• a chamber plate having a sample chamber for receiving a sample and a capture chamber;
• a reagent bubble plate having a plurality of reagent bubbles, each reagent bubble containing between about 5 microliters and about 5 milliliters of a separate reagent, the separate reagents including at least one acid reagent, at least one base reagent, at least one napththalene-2-3-dialdeyde (NDA) reagent, and at least one taurine reagent;
• at least one reagent channel plate located between the chamber plate and the reagent plate, wherein the at least one reagent channel plate comprises at least one reagent channel configured to provide fluid communication between the sample chamber of the chamber plate and the at least one acid reagent bubble, and wherein the at least one reagent channel plate comprises at least one reagent channel configured to provide fluid communication between the capture chamber of the chamber plate and each of the at least one base, NDA and taurine reagent bubbles;
• and
• at least one air channel plate located between the at least one reagent channel plate and the chamber plate, wherein the at least one air channel plate comprises an external gas flow channel configured to provide a fluid connection between an external gas source and the sample chamber, and wherein the at least one air channel plate comprises a headspace gas channel configured to provide a fluid connection between the headspace of the sample chamber and the capture chamber;
• wherein the sample chamber of the chemical capture cartridge is configured to react the sample with at least the acid reagent to provide a headspace gas comprising hydrogen cyanide, and the hydrogen cyanide in the headspace gas is capable of reacting with the mixture of the base, NDA and taurine reagents in the capture chamber to form a detectible cyanide complex.